Civil engineering firm GBSS is supporting Back-to-School Bank East Renfrewshire; an initiative which donates a range of new school clothing and essentials to local families prepare for the year ahead.

The Falkirk-based contractor recently purchased and handed over 16 school uniforms – evenly split for boys and girls – along with PE kits and water bottles at Tilbury Douglas’ offices in Livingston following an introduction from project partner Shirley Lawrie.

The donation will help support families across East Renfrewshire by ensuring children have the basics they need to walk into school feeling confident and ready to learn.

Back-to-School Bank East Renfrewshire is part of a wider network of volunteer-led School Clothing Banks that provide brand-new uniforms, PE kits, school bags and stationery to children living in hardship. Working closely with schools and support services, the initiative ensures help reaches families who need it most, easing financial pressure while protecting young people’s dignity.

The support comes as GBSS and Tilbury Douglas continue to work together on the Mearns Castle High School project, alongside a number of education developments across central Scotland. For GBSS, contributing to an initiative that supports families within the wider school community felt like a natural extension of that work.

Kirsten Dalziel, Business Support Coordinator at GBSS, said: “When we heard about the work Back-to-School Bank East Renfrewshire is doing, we wanted to help in a practical way. The cost of uniforms can be a real strain for families, particularly at the start of a new term. If providing a few key essentials helps a young person feel more confident walking through the school gates, then it is absolutely worthwhile.

As a business working on education projects across central Scotland, we see first-hand how important schools are to their communities. Supporting families beyond the construction phase is something we care about, and we’re happy to play a small part in easing the pressure for local households.”

Shirley Lawrie Social Value Coordinator at Tilbury Douglas added: “Back-to-School Bank East Renfrewshire does fantastic work behind the scenes to support families who might otherwise struggle throughout the school year. We were pleased to introduce GBSS to the initiative and to see partners come together to make a practical difference for local children.”

The handover reflects a shared commitment between GBSS and Tilbury Douglas to support the communities connected to their projects – not only by delivering infrastructure, but by responding to local needs where they can.